Amadeus Targets Major Customers in Asia Pacific

7 September 2004

Amadeus today announced the appointment of Mr. Bill Lawler to lead Amadeus Asia Pacific’s Multinational Customer Group (MCG). Augmenting this key area of the business with an executive of Mr. Lawler’s experience is considered a crucial element in Amadeus’ strategy to deliver multinational customers (including business, corporate, leisure, and online market segments) the widest range of tailored products, services and solutions in the region.

With the formation of the Amadeus MCG early this year reflecting a global travel market dominated by large multinational travel companies, this appointment is seen as a move by the region’s largest global distribution system (GDS) to position itself for expansion and meet growing demand by investing in key account management for multinational customer groups in the region.

Mr. Bill Lawler, Director, MCG, Amadeus Asia Pacific, said, “As we see the industry-wide trend towards consolidation continue, multinationals are expected to become an increasingly important component of Amadeus’ business. It is critical to our success in the region that Amadeus’ capability to deliver the needs of multinational customers (including names such as American Express, Business Travel International, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Flight Centre, Opodo, Radius, Synergi, and TQ3), online travel agencies, vertically integrated tour operators, student travel agencies, and corporations, are known and understood.”

Mr. Lawler, who has more than 18 years’ experience in the travel technology industry, including five years with Australia’s first reservation system, has headed up Amadeus Australia and New Zealand since 2000, while concurrently holding specific MCG responsibilities for the Pacific region over the past two years.

Mr. David Brett, President, Amadeus Asia Pacific, said, “Meeting the needs of major multinational customers is a key element of Amadeus’ Asia Pacific and global strategies. Mr. Lawler’s depth of experience in this area will enable us to better understand their needs and more effectively support their complex business technology needs in the region.”

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He added, “His commitment over the past five years has been instrumental in the development of the Australian and New Zealand markets, and his experience and familiarity with these customers will provide Amadeus tremendous competitive advantage in this critical area.”

Mr. Tim Russell, formerly the Director of Market Management for Amadeus Asia Pacific, has been appointed to succeed Mr. Lawler as Managing Director of Amadeus Australia and New Zealand.——-